Hi, Everyone! Welcome to a whole new year of the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World! Or maybe it isn’t fair to just say Walt Disney World, since I received passes to Universal Orlando Resort this Christmas! This week I’m excited to share my first trip there in ages, show off the new Polynesian […]

I’ve mentioned before that I love Universal, but some of the rides are too intense for me. (Maybe that’s why Cat In The Hat was my first stop!) When picking an admission ticket we normally end up choosing Disney just because there’s more we can do together. However, when passes are a gift there is no decision to be made, and I was just dying to see Diagon Alley! Click “read more” below for more on my first visit!

Diagon Alley is stunning and really puts New Fantasyland into perspective. I was completely lost in this area, just wandering around slack jawed. While my hubby rode Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, I did a little photo walk and was hoping I’d have lots to share. It ends up I was too amazed to take many decent photos but I’m really looking forward to sharing more of this area with you. I could do an entire post just on this area alone! Would you like to see that? Let me know in the comments! Below left is a statue just outside of Gringotts bank and below right is the dragon perched above breathing fire. I can’t tell you enough how impressed I was with Diagon Alley!

Next we rode another classic attraction that I’ve missed, the E.T. Adventure. I loved this ride as a kid and this was my first time riding since I got into photography. I was able to grab the below couple of shots my very first ride and I’m excited to have entire new rides to shoot. Once the crowds die down after the new year you can bet I’ll be heading back to Universal! Any requests for what you’d like to see there? Let me know in the comments below, I’m always excited to have your feedback.

But there’s a lot to share at Disney this week so let’s head over to the Polynesian Resort. The day I left for Christmas vacation I heard the walls were down in the lobby. Like everyone else I braced myself for the photos, but I decided to not judge it too much until I saw it in person myself. I loved the old lobby and I didn’t love the renderings of the new design, so I was prepared to be underwhelmed. Surprisingly, I really liked the new design when I visited this weekend. It feels much larger and the bright colors are pretty. Overall, I’m actually glad they made the change.

As many others have mentioned there is a “not so hidden Mickey” just as you enter the lobby (below left) and a teeny, tiny water feature in the center of the lobby (below right). In the renderings there’s a tiki figure on top of this small water feature that still hasn’t arrived in real life. I’ll wait to hold judgement until it’s complete but it seems like the little water feature could have just gone away. It’s such a minuscule tribute to what was once there! We’ll see if it really feels like it belongs there once the design is complete.

The best part of the new lobby is the little sitting areas all over. The space that was opened up by removing the planter and waterfall has been reused with great, open seating. We tried out lots of the chairs and everything is very comfortable, making this a nice gathering spot for hotel guests. Overall, I was totally wrong! This was a nice renovation for the hotel.

If photos aren’t your thing – here is a video from the upper story looking down. Extra bonus, you can see the Christmas tree!

One last update on construction at the Polynesian is the pool outside. While you can’t see behind the walls, you can see the volcano peeking up from behind. They’ve made such progress here. I can’t wait to see what the finished product looks like in 2015.

Speaking of 2015, the new merchandise has rolled out! I was worried that the new generic Walt Disney World merchandise was replacing dated items, but that certainly isn’t the case! Remember that you can always click on any of the photos to see larger images of all this new 2015 goodness.

a last few little merchandise goodies I noticed were these awesome pins that I had never seen in person before. At $11.95 each I resisted the urge to bring them home. Who knows? They might even end up at the outlet if I’m patient enough!

Moving over to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Starbucks is coming along and all the walls have been taken down outside! In the photo below right you can even see that Starbucks logo just waiting to be unwrapped! Personally, I’m hoping that it will be open by New Years Eve since I’m planning to celebrate the New Year here. If you’d like to see what Epcot was like last year you can read all about it here. I’ve never tried Hollywood Studios for New Year’s Eve, so I’m excited for 2015 and you can expect to hear all about it next week!

The entire reason we were at Hollywood Studios was to see the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special. I loved the Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island and was very sad when it closed. It’s bittersweet for it to return for just a few precious days around the holidays. This year they put the show in the American Idol Theater and it filled that space more than American Idol ever did! We planned our visit around available FastPass+ times, but there was no need to do that. Arriving 20 minutes early would have assured we got a seat.

If you were never around to see the Comedy Warehouse in action, here is a taste of the improvisation they do. It’s lots of fun and a main reason we’re heading to this park on New Year’s Eve. Would you like to see more? Let me know in the comments below and I can film more to share! Everyone around us was talking about how much they missed the show and how it was a perfect fit for this now empty theater. Wow, it would be amazing if Disney actually listened!

One thing I always notice this time of year is people talking about the insane crowds at the parks. While it can be very busy, I think it’s manageable if you plan correctly. I wanted to share the below video as proof that the parks aren’t just overflowing with wall to wall people. We had some time to kill before the next Comedy Warehouse show, so we camped out on a bench to relax and this was my view. Not too crazy, is it? Was it this slow all over the park? Of course not! But the point is that you can make it look very crowded or completely empty based on what you show. Don’t believe all the photos on Twitter showing shoulder to shoulder crowds.

Of course, I couldn’t set still so I set out to see if there was anything new to share. Over on Sunset Blvd, I noticed a new Baymax candy apple to keep Olaf company. While it’s really simple it’s cute! Baymax drink cups are back in stock at the park but I haven’t seen any of the new Baymax balloons that have been reported at Disneyland.

I found a couple of small merchandise updates at the Studios. On the left are new 2015 ears that are only available in youth size. I might try to fit them for NYE, though! On the below right is the new 2015 Duffy bear and a new Pluto costume for Duffy. It’s really soft and includes his tail. I might need to add one of these to my Duffy’s wardrobe!

Our last updates this week are from Epcot, where I realized I don’t think I’ve shown you the front of the park? We’ve been going in at the International Gateway lately since we’re visiting all the Christmas displays in the countries, but the front entrance is lovely for the holidays too! While I get tired of seeing the same topiaries used over and over, I’m sure they look amazing to someone on their first visit!

Speaking of reused topiaries, haven’t these been here just about all year? In any case, they’re now dressed up for the holidays and make a very pretty photo opportunity as you enter the World Showcase. One less desirable feature already showing up all over Epcot are portalets! No really, there aren’t enough restrooms in the park for everyone so trailers of potties have started appearing in the park. They’re actually very nice and I recommend them if you’re going to hop in a 30 minutes line to use the bathroom on New Year’s Eve.

Preparation for the New Year’s Eve parties have started in the host countries around the world. China has my personal favorite, if you’d like to see it in action you can find my post from last year here. It’s amazing that one night a year Epcot turns into an absolute rave and people just accept that!

Getting back into the holiday spirit, this lovely gingerbread house is on display in the American Adventure. The stats on the display can be seen in the photo on the below right. I completely missed this on my first couple of visits this year. There is so much to see at Epcot for the holidays, I feel like I’ll never catch it all!

Below left, Steven Curtis Chapman was narrating the Candlelight Processional. Now, please do not confuse a good zoom lens with good seats! I haven’t camped out to see this show in several years. With all the dinner packages that are sold these days it’s just about impossible to even get in without waiting over an hour. I think we’ll break down and purchase a dining package next year, though. It’s been too long! On the below right is the storyteller from Morocco that taught us about holidays in that country. She was brand new this year, and I should have taken video! She was beautiful and animated, the photo just doesn’t do her justice!

I learned my lesson, and over in Germany decided to take video of Helga telling us about Christmas in her country! Despite it being just a few days after Christmas, I found that it was very easy to see the storytellers around the World Showcase. I only arrived 5 minutes early for each and was right up front.

Be sure to check back next week for all the New Year’s Eve fun at Walt Disney World! Plus, remember to tell me what you’d like to see from Universal. I’m excited to have something brand new to share here.

That’s everything for this week. Now let’s see what you can expect if you’re visiting next week.

Crowd Calendar: It’s going to be very busy all the way until January 6th. Optimize those Touring Plans and be ready!

Weather: Can you believe we’re going to get back up into the mid 80’s this weekend? At least lows will still be in the 60’s. Pack your summer clothes!

Remember: January 5th the Cinderella’s Royal Table will be closing for a lengthy renovation. If you’d like to see all the latest renovation information check here.

Here’s my top tip for this week: If you’ll be visiting any park over the next few days, pack your patience. It’s also a good idea to pack a survival bag. If you haven’t experienced it, you might be surprised to find out that on a very busy day you could have to wait 30+ minutes for a drink or to use the bathroom. I always bring snacks, a water bottle, phone charger, and extra layers of clothing in case it get cold.

Do you have any news I missed or any requests for coverage next week? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!

Halloween in still three weeks away, but Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 24 is well underway, and as always the event — and therefore our HHN24 touring plan — is ever evolving. After experiencing the rain-soaked chaos of opening night, I returned on a precipitation-free Thursday without the benefit of an RIP guided tour or […]

Halloween in still three weeks away, but Universal Orlando’sHalloween Horror Nights 24 is well underway, and as always the event — and therefore our HHN24 touring plan — is ever evolving. After experiencing the rain-soaked chaos of opening night, I returned on a precipitation-free Thursday without the benefit of an RIP guided tour or Express Passes.

The good news is that I was able to experience all 8 haunted houses, and both shows, before the evening ended even without those extra-cost line-cutting perks, but it wan’t easy. To update my previously published Halloween Horror Nights Survival Guide, here’s a summary of my recent observations, followed by an improved edition of my HHN24 touring plans to plot your escape from the evil of overstuffed queues.

HHN24 Observations for Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014

If you want to be inside Universal Studios Florida for Horror Nights early entry, you should enter the park (using a valid regular ticket or annual pass) well before its 5:00 p.m. daytime closing; I recommend arriving no later than 4:30 p.m.

There is no special Stay & Scream ticket offered this year, but guests with park-to-park admission may ride the Hogwarts Express between USF and Hogsmeade when IoA is open later. Exact operating hours vary with closing time, but during my visit guests could continue to enjoy Diagon Alley until 6 p.m., as long as they received a wristband indicating park-to-park access.

Unfortnately, while HHN guests in Diagon are led into a holding area outside the London Waterfront as early as 5:15 p.m., they aren’t released to the haunted houses until well after the New York and Kidzone groups, making it a poor choice for maximizing your HHN efficiency.

Guests in KidZone were the first to be released into a haunted house, at around 5:50 p.m. However, the house they have first access to is Roanoke, which has some of the shortest lines during the rest of the evening. They also get a head start at around 6 p.m. on Dollhouse of the Damned, which developes moderly long waits later on. Finally, KidZone guests can can be first to pre-load in the Halloween queue before its 6:30 p.m. opening.

There is also a holding area on Hollywood outside the Lucy museum, but guests there don’t get released until the front gates open, negating any early entry advantage. You can’t even see much of the brief Purge-themed pre-opening ceremony from there.

I selected the New York holding area on Delancey St., whose line consumes a portion of Transformers’ extended queue. The line to enter Finnegan’s Bar spilled out into the street, so it’s a good thing I brought a snack with me from Springfield.

At 5:58 p.m., we were released from in front of Finnegan’s to the Alien vs Predator house, which was the first one to open. Due to some “technical difficulties,” the house didn’t actually begin accepting guests until 6:12 p.m. I was out the door by 6:18 p.m., by which time its line was posted at 45 minutes.

Neither Dracula Untold nor The Walking Dead open until 6:30 p.m., at which point the former posted a 10 minute wait, with the later already over an hour. From Dusk Til Dawn was operating before 6:30 p.m., also with a 10 minute posted wait.

When official opening time arrived, Dollhouse of the Damned and Roanoke were both 10 minutes; Dollhouse’s line grew substantially, but Roanoke’s remained relatively low.

When the line was short early in the evening, operations was “pulsing” small groups of guests through Dollhouse instead of a stead conga line. It made HHN’s creepiest haunt in years even freakier!

Within 10 minutes of the event officially opening, the wait for Halloween was posted at 45 minutes, and actually took 40. Ideally you should experience this house after dark, because of the excellent projection mapping effects used outside the entrance, but by sunset the line was 60 minutes or more.

This year’s Bill & Ted show continued to impress me as the funniest in several years. If you attend the first Bill & Ted performance of the night, you can slip in right at (or even a few minutes after) showtime, since there are usually empty seats in the rear; be warned that you will miss the painfully hillarious preshow video. Later in the night shows sell out at least 15 minutes in advance.

Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. wait times approach their peaks. On this “off-peak” night, maximums were 90 minutes for Halloween and The Walking Dead; 60 for AvP, Dracula Untold, and Giggles & Gore; 45 for Dollhouse of the Damned, and From Dusk Til Dawn; and 30 for Roanoke. Actual wait times averaged about 5 minutes shorter than posted, with Express Pass return queues reported to average about 25% of standby waits.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute has a great cast this year, but most guests just don’t seem to know what to make of the audience participation, and many begin to flee around the “Touch-a Touch-a” number. I was also disappointed that they cut Science Fiction Double Feature Reprise, which had a lovely vocal arrangement. Even though I’m a long-time fan of the property, I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed to see a different show in the Beetlejuice Graveyard stage next year.

Be sure to spend some time exploring the scarezones, especially The Purge in New York which features regular “victim auctions” atop the school bus outside Macy’s.

The Face Off and MASKerade zones aren’t too scary, but are packed with gorgeous photo-ops.

The Bayou of Blood’s stage is somewhat static now that the sacrifice shows have been scrapped, but you should still say hello to the spooky Voodo Queen.

Queue entertainment is disappointingly lacking this year. The only house with a preshow worth mentioning is Halloween, with Giggles’ slideshow and Walking Dead’s trivia adding nothing to the storytelling. While waiting 35 minutes for the meh Dracula maze, I wondered why clips from the new film weren’t screening on the giant soundstage walls we were standing outside.

Posted wait time may be grossly overestimated in the event’s final hour. Giggles & Gore’s wait was posted at 30 minutes when I queued up at 11:30 p.m., but the actual wait was only 15. Better yet, Walking Dead was posted 60 minutes at 10 to midnight, but I actually waited only 20. Best of all, the scareactors didn’t seem to be slacking of in the least, even if their long shifts were nearly over.

Updated HHN24 Touring Plans

Overall, I accomplished everything I wanted to in one night without Express, but it gets harder every year. I’ve heard that, thanks to heavy “off-peak” discounts, Saturday nights have been more managable than the “slow” night this year. If you’re going to tackle HHN without extra-cost assistance (and even if you are going with Express) you’ll want to study these revised HHN24 touring plans.

Early Entry Option A (KidZone):

Enter the park no later than 4:45 p.m. using a valid daytime ticket.

Proceed to the KidZone area, where you will show your HHN ticket and receive a wristband.

Wait in the shaded area outside Animal Actors until allowed to queue for Roanoke: Cannibal Colony.

If Roanoke: Cannibal Colony begins operating first, enter it when it opens.

The Roanoke exit leads directly to the entrance of Dollhouse of the Damned.

After Dollhouse, if Halloween is not yet open, cross the park to Alien vs Predator (enter near the Twister facade).

Return to the other side of the park, where Halloween’s entrance can be found next to MIB Gear.

Check your map for the first showtime of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, and arrive at the Fear Factor Live stadium 10 minutes prior.

Exit to your right and continue to the New York area. Experience Dracula Untold, followed by From Dusk Til Dawn if their waits are 45 minutes or less.

Check your map for the next showtime of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute, and arrive at the Beetlejuice stage 10 to 20 minutes prior.

Before or after the show, ride Transformers, Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, or MEN IN BLACK: Alien Attack using the Single Rider line.

Walk around the park clockwise, exploring the scarezones. Start by walking through the Bayou of Blood to Hollywood, then through Face Off towards the park entrance. Turn right into MASKerade, then end with The Purge in New York (watch for victim auctions).

Consider taking a break from the park in CityWalk, especially if the park is open past midnight. Hold onto your ticket and have your hand stamped at the gate.

Return to the park 90 minutes before closing to experience The Walking Dead and any other houses you missed or want to see again. Wait times drop dramatically in the last hour, and you can join the queue for a haunted house right up until closing time.

To avoid a traffic jam, leave the park 30 minutes before closing, or wait to be one of the last to exit.

Early Entry Option B (Finnegan’s):

Enter the park no later than 4:45 p.m. using a valid daytime ticket.

Proceed to the New York area across from the Transformers ride, where you will show your HHN ticket and receive a wristband.

Wait outside or inside Finnegan’s Bar and Restaurant (reservations are usually fully booked for the event).

When released from the holding area at approximately 5:45 p.m., head directly to Alien vs Predator (enter near the Twister facade)

Cross through the Production Central area past Mel’s Drive-In, and shortcut through the Garden of Allah to KidZone.

Skip Roanoke: Cannibal Colony for now, and experience Dollhouse of the Damned.

After Dollhouse, Halloween’s entrance can be found next to MIB Gear.

Check your map for the first showtime of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, and arrive at the Fear Factor Live stadium 10 minutes prior.

Return to the New York area. Experience Dracula Untold followed by From Dusk Til Dawn if their waits are 45 minutes or less.

Check your map for the next showtime of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute, and arrive at the Beetlejuice stage 10 to 20 minutes prior.

Before or after the show, ride Transformers, Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, or MEN IN BLACK: Alien Attack using the Single Rider line.

Return to Kidzone and experience Roanoke: Cannibal Colony, which should have a reasonable wait when everything else is overwhelmed.

Walk around the park clockwise, exploring the scarezones. Start by walking through the Bayou of Blood to Hollywood, then through Face Off towards the park entrance. Turn right into MASKerade, then end with The Purge in New York (watch for victim auctions).

Consider taking a break from the park in CityWalk, especially if the park is open past midnight. Hold onto your ticket and have your hand stamped at the gate.

Return to the park 90 minutes before closing to experience The Walking Dead and any other houses you missed or want to see again. Wait times drop dramatically in the last hour, and you can join the queue for a haunted house right up until closing time.

To avoid a traffic jam, leave the park 30 minutes before closing, or wait to be one of the last to exit.

General Admission:

Park and arrive at Universal with ticket in hand no later than 5:30 p.m., and pass through the security checkpoint (using the “no bags” line to the left if possible).

Line up as close as possible to any turnstile (including the temporary ones at the center gate) and watch the pre-opening skit on the balcony above the ticket booths at approximately 6:15 p.m.

When the gates open, head straight past From Dusk Til Dawn and Walking Dead to enter Alien vs Predator.

After exiting AvP, walk past Mel’s Drive-In, and shortcut through the Garden of Allah to KidZone.

Skip Roanoke: Cannibal Colony for now and experience Dollhouse of the Damned.

After Dollhouse, Halloween’s entrance can be found next to MIB Gear.

Check your map for the first showtime of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, and arrive at the Fear Factor Live stadium 10 minutes prior.

Exit to your right and continue to the New York area. Experience Dracula Untold and/or From Dusk Til Dawn if their waits are 45 minutes or less.

Check your map for the next showtime of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute, and arrive at the Beetlejuice stage 10 to 20 minutes prior.

Before or after the show, ride Transformers, Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, or MEN IN BLACK: Alien Attack using the Single Rider line.

Return to Kidzone and experience Roanoke: Cannibal Colony, which should have a reasonable wait when everything else is overwhelmed.

Walk around the park clockwise, exploring the scarezones. Start by walking through the Bayou of Blood to Hollywood, then through Face Off towards the park entrance. Turn right into MASKerade, then end with The Purge in New York (watch for victim auctions).

Consider taking a break from the park in CityWalk, especially if the park is open past midnight. Hold onto your ticket and have your hand stamped at the gate.

Return to the park 90 minutes before closing to experience The Walking Dead and any other houses you missed or want to see again. Wait times drop dramatically in the last hour, and you can join the queue for a haunted house right up until closing time.

To avoid a traffic jam, leave the park 30 minutes before closing, or wait to be one of the last to exit.

As the summer season comes to a close, we’ve gotten word of some upcoming changes to Universal Orlando Early Park Admission policies that are scheduled to go into effect early next month. While no details have been officially announced, we’ve confirmed this information with guest service leads at both parks, and we believe the following […]

Big changes are coming in September to Universal Orlando’s Early Park Admission perk (Photo by Seth Kubersky)

As the summer season comes to a close, we’ve gotten word of some upcoming changes to Universal Orlando Early Park Admission policies that are scheduled to go into effect early next month.

While no details have been officially announced, we’ve confirmed this information with guest service leads at both parks, and we believe the following modifications will be made to Universal Orlando’s early park admission perk (otherwise known as “early entry” or “early admission”) offered to guests at the resort’s four on-site hotels.

We will be on hand to report on the new procedures, and we will update the information on our Early Park Admission page as policy changes develop.

[Note: Universal Orlando has recently confirmed an update to the off-season early entry, see below for bolded changes]

Early Park Admission General Information

Universal Orlando offers admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas at Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) and/or Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) one hour before regular park opening. This perk is given for free to all guests staying at a Universal Resort Hotel. Guests with certain types of “vacation packages” (most commonly sold by Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations and involving both accommodations at a Universal partner hotel and theme park admission) are also allowed in early.

The turnstiles to the park(s) participating in early entry should open approximately 90 minutes before the official opening time. Both hotel and day guests will be admitted to the park, and each eligible guest will need to show his or her own room key to pass beyond the park’s entry plaza during the early admission hour. Guests not eligible for early admission will be held in an alternative area to await the official opening time.

During early park admission, all of the attractions, shops, and restaurants in the Wizarding World should be open, along with a couple of select attractions outside the Harry Potter areas. Early entry is by far the best time to ride Escape from Gringotts without waiting over an hour in the standby queue. However, if the attraction is not operational when early entry begins, skip Gringotts and try again late in the day; by the time it begins running in the morning, there will be a huge backlog of riders.

Peak Season Early Park Admission

During busier times of the year, Universal offers early park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas at both Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) and Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) on every morning. Universal only guarantees early admission to one park per day, but both were open daily through Summer 2014.

The following attractions should be available when both parks are open for early entry:

Islands of Adventure

The Hogwarts Express is available during early entry for transport between the parks, and it requires a park-to-park ticket. When both parks open at the same time, the Hogwarts Express will begin running when early entry starts. When one park opens later than the other, the train will not begin operating until the front gate of the second park has opened, approximately 30 minutes before its early entry hour begins. Therefore, if USF opens second, the first wave of guests entering that park from the front gate will always arrive at Diagon Alley and Gringotts ahead of those traveling from IoA on the first train.

Off-Peak Early Park Admission

Effective Tuesday, September 2, 2014, only Universal Studios Florida (and not Islands of Adventure) will admit eligible guests for early park admission during the off season. Despicable Me and the Diagon Alley attractions will be open at USF during early entry.

There is no announced date as to when the “off season” for early park admission will end, but it seems safe to assume that two-park early entry may return for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

Annual Passholders

During certain times of year, Universal Orlando has historically allowed its Annual Passholders to enjoy some form of Early Park Admission. In September of 2014, Annual Passholders can enter Universal Studios Florida early on weekdays only. Check Universal’s Annual Passholder website for current promotions.

If you are planning to devote a day of your vacation to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll quickly discover that there is more to do at Universal Orlando’s park than can be covered in dozen hours. We’ve had a great response to our recently published Diagon Alley touring plan and one day/two park touring […]

The good news for guests just now getting to Gringotts is that the ride is running much more reliably and with greater capacity than only a couple weeks ago; as a result, standby wait times are peaking in the morning at half their former 450-minute high-water, and dropping to 120 or less by late afternoon. There is still a rush to Diagon Alley every morning, resulting in a queue to enter London for early arrivers. But the return time tickets are rarely needed any more, and crowd control barricades around the area have been vanishing by lunchtime.

Note that these new two-day/two-park touring plans have been optimized to account for the recent reduction in operating hours, and should scale well with diminishing crowds as hours are reduced further this fall. As always, we’ll continue refining our plans using the latest data, and subscribers can edit and evaluate them for themselves by personalizing a copy of our premium plans. (Be sure to look for a link to Part 2 at the top of the plan, and make a copy of each part.)
These plans are designed for guests purchasing park-to-park tickets; those with single-park tickets should use our one-day/one-park plans. Also, while the plans are labeled “day 1″ and “day 2″ they may be used in any order; general admission guests who are eager to ride Gringotts may want to use day 2 first.

Universal Orlando Two Day/Two Park Touring Plan for Early Entry

For visitors whose top touring priority is Harry Potter (or anyone who wants to experience Gringotts with less than a 2 hour wait), our #1 suggestion is to stay at an onsite hotel in order to secure early entry into the Wizarding World. This perk, which allows you inside select areas of the parks an hour before the general public, is worth its weight in goblin gold, especially since Universal Express passes (given free to guests of the 3 upscale onsite properties) aren’t valid for the Forbidden Journey or any new Diagon Alley attractions. It is also possible to book an offsite hotel package through Universal Vacations that includes early entry, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege, and have to contend with getting to the resort early enough to make it worthwhile.

Early Entry is available to all eligible guests every morning at both parks, with no restrictions (at this time) on which hotel guests can get into Diagon Alley on any given day. The only attractions operating during the Entry Entry hours are the Wizarding World rides (including the Hogwarts Express), plus Despicable Me at USF and Cat in the Hat at IoA. [Note: On days when one park opens an hour before the other, the Hogwarts Express doesn’t begin running until Early Entry starts at the second park.]

As a result, a substantial proportion of the guests in Universal’s 4000 hotel rooms descend upon Diagon Alley and Gringotts as soon as the gates open. Therefore, if you want to participate in Early Entry, you must be on a bus or boat as soon as the resort transportation begins operating, 2 hours prior to official park opening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes, such as those staying at Cabana Bay. Guests staying at the three luxury hotels with free Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Secure your park admission at least the day before your visit, either online or at your hotel’s ticket sales desk.

Be waiting for the first bus or boat from your hotel, which should depart 120 minutes before the published public opening time. If you are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel it is quickest to walk via the path from the main pool.

Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 110 minutes before the published public opening time, or 50 minutes before early entry begins.

Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.

Once admitted to the park, proceed straight past Despicable Me, showing your hotel room key card to the employees stationed there. You will be held near the Shrek attraction, then walked through World Expo to the queue outside Fear Factor Live. Be cautious while walking; barricades near Simpsons and MEN IN BLACK serve as “pinch points” and can be hard to see through the moving crowd until you are pushed up against them.

Enter London through the gateway outside Grimmauld Place, and approach the entrance to Diagon Alley, disguised as the Leicester Square subway station.

Once inside Diagon Alley, if Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is operating, get in line for the ride. You may be diverted to the right through Carkitt Market to avoid congesting the main thoroughfare; otherwise, make a beeline for the bank below the fire-breathing dragon.

By the time you exit Gringotts, Early Entry should be nearly over. Exit Diagon Alley towards King’s Cross Station, then cross through San Francisco towards the front of the park.

Get to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit just as the park is officially opening and be among the first to ride it.

Exit Rockit towards the central lagoon and ride Transformers.

Turn left out of Transformers to New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.

After exiting the Mummy, walk back towards Diagon Alley and continue past it to ride MEN IN BLACK.

Head straight out of the MEN IN BLACK gift shop to The Simpsons Ride.

Exit Springfield to the left and continue towards the front of the park to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This will be a long wait, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.

Return to Springfield and have an early lunch at Fast Food Boulevard. If you prefer a sit-down meal, try Finnegan’s in New York.

Bear left out of Springfield into Kidzone, and experience The E.T. Adventure.

Exit E.T. to the left and continue clockwise around the lagoon to San Francisco in time for the next showing of Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mash-Up. (Switch with the next step if showtime is imminent.)

See the nearby Disaster! before or after the Beetlejuice show, depending on the time.

Return to the London waterfront area and ride the Hogwarts Express train to Islands of Adventure. If using Lines, switch to Part 2 of this plan.

Head left from Hogsmeade Station through the Lost Continent, and explore Seuss Landing.

Return to Lost Continent in time for a late afternoon showing of the Sinbad Stunt Show (or feel free to skip it).

Spent some time chatting with the Mystic Fountain outside Sinbad stadium.

Enter Hogsmeade and ride the Dragon Challenge if you dare.

Have dinner at The Three Broomsticks.

After dinner, explore the shops and windows of Hogsmeade.

Ride Fight of the Hippogriff.

Following your flight, walk next door to Hogwarts Castle and brave the Forbidden Journey inside. If this is not your first ride on Forbidden Journey, use the single rider line. Alternatively, request a “castle tour” to experience the queue, then exit or ask to transfer to singles.

Enjoy the evening atmosphere in Hogsmeade, and explore the hidden details of the islands as you exit.

Check the scheduled times for the Blues Brothers Show, Animal Actors, and Horror Make-Up Shows. Try to arrange to see all three, with the last performance starting around 5 p.m.

Between the shows, see Twister, Shrek 4-D and Terminator 2.

Return to Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sights, starting with Olivanders Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.

At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.

Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.

Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.

Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.

Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.

If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.

If you want another ride on Gringotts, get in the single rider queue before it closes for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is.

Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.

Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.

Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

A good Touring Plan may mean the difference between standing in this…

…or this!

Universal Orlando Two Day/Two Park Touring Plan for General Admission

Diagon Alley will already be full of early entrants no matter what time offsite guests arrive. Early birds without Early Entry should therefore avoid the herd heading to queue outside London, and instead take advantage of lower waits in the rest of the park while saving Potter for the evening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes. It therefore requires a lot of “bouncing around” and criss-crossing the park in order to stay ahead of the building standby queues. Guests who purchase Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Secure your admission ticket before arriving at the resort, preferably online. If you purchased tickets though universal’s website, you may use a credit card to retrieve your tickets from the automated will-call kiosks outside the entrance. Whatever you do, don’t waste time on the morning of your visit lining up at the ticket booths.

Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 30 to 45 minutes before the published public opening time. Leave at least 15 to 20 minutes to park your car and walk through CityWalk from the parking garage.

Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue.

Once admitted to the park, the majority of day guests will turn right down Hollywood Boulevard to await entry to Diagon Alley. Instead, proceed straight past Despicable Me and ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as soon as the attraction opens.

Exit Rockit towards the central lagoon and ride Transformers.

Turn left out of Transformers to New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.

After exiting the Mummy, walk back towards Diagon Alley and continue past it to ride MEN IN BLACK.

Head straight out of the MEN IN BLACK gift shop to The Simpsons Ride.

Exit Springfield to the left and continue towards the front of the park to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This will be a long wait, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.

Return to Springfield and have an early lunch at Fast Food Boulevard. If you prefer a sit-down meal, try Finnegan’s in New York.

Bear left out of Springfield into Kidzone, and experience The E.T. Adventure.

Exit E.T. to the left and continue clockwise around the lagoon to San Francisco in time for the next showing of Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mash-Up. (Switch with the next step if showtime is imminent.)

See the nearby Disaster! before or after the Beetlejuice show, depending on the time.

Return to the London waterfront area and ride the Hogwarts Express train to Islands of Adventure. If using Lines, switch to Part 2 of this plan.

Head left from Hogsmeade Station through the Lost Continent, and explore Seuss Landing.

Return to Lost Continent in time for a late afternoon showing of the Sindbad Stunt Show (or feel free to skip it).

Spent some time chatting with the Mystic Fountain outside Sindbad stadium.

Enter Hogsmeade and ride the Dragon Challenge if you dare.

Have dinner at The Three Broomsticks.

After dinner, explore the shops and windows of Hogsmeade.

Ride Fight of the Hippogriff.

Following your flight, walk next door to Hogwarts Castle and brave the Forbidden Journey inside. If this is not your first ride on Forbidden Journey, use the single rider line. Alternatively, request a “castle tour” to experience the queue, then exit or ask to transfer to singles.

Enjoy the evening atmosphere in Hogsmeade, and explore the hidden details of the islands as you exit.

Arrive at the front gates of Islands of Adventure at least 30-45 minutes before the published public opening time.

Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.

Follow team members directions through Port of Entry to the left, and ride The Incredible Hulk roller-coaster.

Continue through Marvel Super Hero Island and experience The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.

Backtrack to ride Doctor Doom’s Fearfall using the single rider entrance in the arcade.

Walk to Toon Lagoon and ride Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.

Assuming you want to get even wetter, ride Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges.

Enter Jurassic Park and complete the soaking series with the River Adventure.

Ride Forbidden Journey again, using the single rider line.

Ride Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff again if you want.

Cross the bridge to Lost Continent (or cut through Hogsmeade if it is closed) and see Poseidon’s Fury.

Eat lunch at Mythos (make reservations in advance at opentable.com).

After lunch ride the Hogwarts Express back to Universal Studios Florida, and switch to Part 2 of this day’s plan.

Check the scheduled times for the Blues Brothers Show, Animal Actors, and Horror Make-Up Shows. Try to arrange to see all three, with the last performance starting around 5 p.m.

Between the shows, see Twister, Shrek 4-D and Terminator 2.

Return to Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sights, starting with Olivanders Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.

At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.

Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.

Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.

Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.

Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.

If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.

Get in line for Gringotts before the doors close for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is.

Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.

Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.

Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

A few days ago, we published our newly updated Universal Studios Florida touring plans, which provide step-by-step instructions for tackling Diagon Alley and the crowds at the Gringotts bank ride with maximum efficiency. Those guides are now available as premium touring plans that can be copied and edited in Lines, with versions for Early Entry guests and for […]

Today, we’re following up with the first installment of our most frequently requested touring plan: one-day/two-park plans covering both sides of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These new plans cover both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. They feature all Harry Potter attractions (including rides on the Hogwarts Express in both directions) in a single day, and assume you have a Park-To-Park (Universal lingo for “parkhopper”) ticket.

[Note: If you caught the early edition of this post, you may notice that the touring plans have changed slightly. Using the latest data crunched overnight, we’ve tweaked the morning attraction order to squeeze in one extra attraction! Similar upgrades have already been made to the premium one day USF/Diagon Alley plans we’ve previously published. You’re welcome!]
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A few words of warning before you grab your robes and rush out the door. While operational capacity at Gringotts continues to improve a a daily basis, we expect the ride’s reliability to continue to consistently inconsistent for at least several more weeks. Especially during Early Entry, a lengthy breakdown while in line at the bank can derail the most carefully laid touring plan.

Even if everything runs smoothly, this plan packs an exhausting amount of entertainment into a single operating day. It is NOT the ideal relaxing vacation experience. If you can afford it, we strongly suggest spending at least 2 or 3 days enjoying Universal’s offerings, rather than sprinting through them.

While these plans are marked as for “adults” they are applicable for anyone who meets the minimum height requirements and is willing to experience thrill rides, which should include most older children and teens. If you are traveling with younger children, use the “child swap” rooms provided at all major rides, or eliminate and substitue for other nearby attractions.

These plans are based on wait time data collected during the first couple weeks of Diagon Alley’s operations. We plan on continuing to test and adjust these plans through the summer, and will likely revise them at the end of the season once we can fully analyze the crowd patterns.

Finally, these plans are designed to let you experience all of the Wizarding World, along with as many of the parks’ other top attractions. If your only concern is Gringotts and Diagon Alley, feel free to join the herd head there first thing and stay as long as you like; just understand it will come at the expense of experiencing other E-Tickets around the resort.

Subscribers who wish do personalize these plans online should be aware that our software only permits one plan per park. Therefore, these plans are spilt into “Part 1″ and “Part 2.” Begin by following Part 1 until you are instructed to travel to the other park, then switch to Part 2. When you reach the end of Part 2, return to the first park and pick up Part 1 where you left off.

Wizarding World One-Day/Two-Park Touring Plan for Adults with Early Entry

For visitors whose top touring priority is Harry Potter (or anyone who wants to experience Gringotts with less than a 2 hour wait), our #1 suggestion is to stay at an onsite hotel in order to secure early entry into the Wizarding World. This perk, which allows you inside select areas of the parks an hour before the general public, is worth its weight in goblin gold, especially since Universal Express passes (given free to guests of the 3 upscale onsite properties) aren’t valid for the Forbidden Journey or any new Diagon Alley attractions. It is also possible to book an offsite hotel package through Universal Vacations that includes early entry, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege, and have to contend with getting to the resort early enough to make it worthwhile.

Early Entry is available to all eligible guests every morning at both parks, with no restrictions (at this time) on which hotel guests can get into Diagon Alley on any given day. The only attractions operating during the Entry Entry hours are the Wizarding World rides (including the Hogwarts Express), plus Despicable Me at USF and Cat in the Hat at IoA.

As a result, a substantial proportion of the guests in Universal’s 4000 hotel rooms descend upon Diagon Alley and Gringotts as soon as the gates open. Therefore, if you want to participate in Early Entry, you must be on a bus or boat as soon as the resort transportation begins operating, 2 hours prior to official park opening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes, such as those staying at Cabana Bay. It therefore requires a lot of “bouncing around” and criss-crossing the park in order to stay ahead of the building standby queues. Guests staying at the three luxury hotels with free Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Secure your park admission at least the day before your visit, either online or at your hotel’s ticket sales desk.

Be waiting for the first bus or boat from your hotel, which should depart 120 minutes before the published public opening time. If you are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel it is quickest to walk via the path from the main pool.

Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 110 minutes before the published public opening time, or 50 minutes before early entry begins.

Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue; ask a team member if you’re unsure which ones will be open.

Once admitted to the park, proceed straight past Despicable Me, showing your hotel room key card to the employees stationed there. You will be held near the Shrek attraction, then walked through World Expo to the queue outside Fear Factor Live. Be cautious while walking; barricades near Simpsons and MEN IN BLACK serve as “pinch points” and can be hard to see through the moving crowd until you are pushed up against them.

Enter London through the gateway outside Grimmauld Place, and approach the entrance to Diagon Alley, disguised as the Leicester Square subway station.

Once inside Diagon Alley, if Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is operating, get in line for the ride. You may be diverted to the right through Carkitt Market to avoid congesting the main thoroughfare; otherwise, make a beeline for the bank below the fire-breathing dragon.

By the time you exit Gringotts, Early Entry should be nearly over. Exit Diagon Alley towards King’s Cross Station, then cross through San Francisco towards the front of the park.

Get to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit just as the park is officially opening and be among the first to ride it.

Exit Rockit towards the central lagoon and ride Transformers.

Turn left out of Transformers to New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.

After exiting the Mummy, walk back towards Diagon Alley and continue past it to ride MEN IN BLACK.

Head straight out of the MEN IN BLACK gift shop to The Simpsons Ride.

Exit Springfield to the left and continue towards the front of the park to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This will be a long wait, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.

If the time is around 2 hours after official park opening, walk down Hollywood and cut through the Gardens of Allah villas to experience The E.T. Adventure. You want to leave USF by three hours after the public opening time, so skip to the next step if you are running behind.

Return to the London waterfront area and ride the Hogwarts Express train to Islands of Adventure. If using Lines, switch to Part 2 of this plan.

Enter Hogsmeade and ride Dragon Challege.

Eat lunch at the Three Broomsticks.

After lunch, head left to ride Flight of the Hippogriff.

Following your flight, walk next door to Hogwarts Castle and brave the Forbidden Journey inside. If this is not your first ride on Forbidden Journey, use the single rider line. Alternatively, request a “castle tour” to experience the queue, then exit or ask to transfer to singles..

Cross the bridge out of Hogsmeade into Jurassic Park and ride the River Adventure, using the single rider line if open.

Walk through Toon Lagoon to Marvel Super Hero Island and experience The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, using the single rider entrance if available.

Exit Spider-Man to the right and ride The Incredible Hulk.

Leave Marvel and walk through Seuss Island on your way back to the Hogsmeade train station. If it is before 4 p.m. and you are ahead of schedule, stop on the way and ride The Cat in the Hat.

Ride the Hogwarts Express back to Universal Studios Florida, and switch back to Part 1 of this plan. If the “no re-ride” policy is being enforced, walk back to the other park.

Walk to the Hollywood area a catch the next Horror Makeup Show, preferably the 5 p.m. performance or earlier.

Return to Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sights, starting with Olivander’s Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.

At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.

Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.

Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.

Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.

Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.

If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.

If you want another ride on Gringotts, get in the single rider queue before it closes for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is.

Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.

Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.

Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

Hogwarts and Gringotts in one day? It can be done with our new Wizarding World two-park touring plans.

Diagon Alley will already be full of early entrants no matter what time offsite guests arrive. Early birds without Early Entry should therefore avoid the herd heading to queue outside London, and instead take advantage of lower waits in the rest of the park while saving Potter for the evening.

Note that this plan is designed for guests without Express passes. It therefore requires a lot of “bouncing around” and criss-crossing the park in order to stay ahead of the building standby queues. Guests who purchase Express access will be able to deviate freely from the touring plan after completing the early entry steps, and should encounter minimal waits at most attractions.

Secure your admission ticket before arriving at the resort, preferably online. If you purchased tickets though Universal’s website, you may use a credit card to retrieve your tickets from the automated will-call kiosks outside the entrance. Whatever you do, don’t waste time on the morning of your visit lining up at the ticket booths.

Arrive at the front gates of Universal Studios Florida at least 30 to 45 minutes before the published public opening time. Leave at least 15 to 20 minutes to park your car and walk through CityWalk from the parking garage.

Line up at the shortest available turnstile queue.

Once admitted to the park, the majority of day guests will turn right down Hollywood Boulevard to await entry to Diagon Alley. Instead, proceed straight past Despicable Me and ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as soon as the attraction opens.

Exit Rockit towards the central lagoon and ride Transformers.

Turn left out of Transformers to New York and ride Revenge of the Mummy.

After exiting the Mummy, walk back towards Diagon Alley and continue past it to ride MEN IN BLACK

Head straight out of the MEN IN BLACK gift shop to The Simpsons Ride.

Exit Springfield to the left and continue towards the front of the park to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This will be a long wait, but it isn’t much better minutes after opening, and won’t drop significantly until closing time.

If the time is around 2 hours after official park opening, walk down Hollywood and cut through the Gardens of Allah villas to experience The E.T. Adventure. You want to leave USF by three hours after the public opening time, so skip to the next step if you are running behind.

Return to the London waterfront area and ride the Hogwarts Express train to Islands of Adventure. If using Lines, switch to Part 2 of this plan.

Enter Hogsmeade and ride Dragon Challege.

Eat lunch at the Three Broomsticks.

After lunch, head left to ride Flight of the Hippogriff.

Following your flight, walk next door to Hogwarts Castle and brave the Forbidden Journey inside. If this is not your first ride on Forbidden Journey, use the single rider line. Alternatively, request a “castle tour” to experience the queue, then exit or ask to transfer to singles..

Cross the bridge out of Hogsmeade into Jurassic Park and ride the River Adventure, using the single rider line if open.

Walk through Toon Lagoon to Marvel Super Hero Island and experience The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, using the single rider entrance if available.

Exit Spider-Man to the right and ride The Incredible Hulk.

Leave Marvel and walk through Seuss Island on your way back to the Hogsmeade train station. If it is before 4 p.m. and you are ahead of schedule, stop on the way and ride The Cat in the Hat.

Ride the Hogwarts Express back to Universal Studios Florida, and switch back to Part 1 of this plan. If the “no re-ride” policy is being enforced, walk back to the other park.

Walk to the Hollywood area a catch the next Horror Makeup Show, preferably the 5 p.m. performance or earlier.

Return to Diagon Alley and explore the shops and sights, starting with Olivander’s Wand Shop, and wait for the show inside. The experience is virtually identical to the annex found in Hogsmeade, but there are three performance spaces so the line should moves at triple the pace; you should rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a show. After the show, purchase an interactive wand if you want to play with the magical effects hidden around the Wizarding World.

At a shop in Carkitt Market you can exchange your Muggle money for Wizarding bank notes, which may be spent throughout the resort. The interactive animatronic goblin in the queue makes this literally the world’s most entertaining and elaborate cash grab; the wait here is usually around 15 minutes.

Head down Horizont Alley to find the entry to Knockturn Alley. Explore the shop Borgin & Burkes, and the other dark corners concealed therein. Be sure to look at the map that came with your interactive wand under the blacklight in here to discover hidden messages.

Browse the other shops in Diagon Alley, starting with Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, Magical Menagerie, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. There may be queues for most of the stores, but you should be able to enter Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies at any time, since it serves as the exit to Gringotts.

Be on the lookout for two live shows performing throughout the day. One is a musical appearance by magical jazz songstress Celestina Warbeck; the other is a reenactment of the “Three Brothers” fable from The Tales of Beedle the Bard (as seen in the seventh film), retold with Michael Curry-designed puppets. Showtimes are not posted, but the acts should alternate every half hour on the hour and half.

Have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Eat an early meal to avoid crowds, but even at peak times the line moves swiftly.

If you want ice cream for dessert, grab a scoop from Florean Fortescue’s. You may also want to try the elixir powders and gillywater sold in Carkitt Market, or the specialty beers and non-alcoholic cocktails at the Fountain of Fair Fortune and Hopping Pot.

Step into the Gringotts queue before it closes for the night. This may happen as early as 2 or 3 hours before park closing, depending on how long the standby queue is. If this is your first trip through the bank, be sure to experience the entire standby queue; otherwise, use single riders if available.

Once you’ve exhausted the entertainment in Diagon Alley, exit into London. Chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his shrunken heads on your way out of Diagon Alley. Also look for Kreacher in the window of 12 Grimmauld Place, and dial 62442 (MAGIC) in the red telephone booth.

Revisit any attractions outside Diagon Alley that you skipped earlier or wish to repeat.

Find a spot along the lagoon to watch the Cinematic Spectacular show five or ten minutes before the performances. Good vantage points can be found near London, Beetlejuice, Transformers, and in Central Park.

Come back soon when we’ll conclude this series with our new two-day/two-park comprehensive Universal Orlando Resort touring plans.

Universal Orlando Resort: A Basic Primer for Walt Disney World Vacation Veterans Friends, vacationers, locals… lend me your comically over-sized souvenir mouse ears! Most of you like the Walt Disney World Resort, and for good reason. But, dear reader, let me tell you about another place. A wonderful place. A place where you can squeal […]

Friends, vacationers, locals… lend me your comically over-sized souvenir mouse ears! Most of you like the Walt Disney World Resort, and for good reason. But, dear reader, let me tell you about another place. A wonderful place. A place where you can squeal and fawn over little jellybean men in overalls and not feel weird because everyone else is doing the same thing. That place… is the Universal Orlando Resort.

Copyright – Universal

There are some people out there who might tell you that there are Disney Folk and Universal Folk, and that never the two shall meet. But, dear reader… that just ain’t so. It doesn’t matter what your family is composed of or how much coffee you drink out of your oversized novelty Donald Duck Mug. If you like roller coasters, Universal Orlando Resort has something for you. If you like great food, the resort has something for you. If you like dinosaurs and wizards, swashbuckling and dancing, beach chairs and tornadoes… it has something for you. Below you’ll find a brief summary of the Universal experience, from the events it hosts to some very important ways it differs from the House of Mouse.

Atmosphere and Crowd

By and large, the Universal Orlando Resort is a surprisingly relaxed place at most times of the year. Sure, if it’s your first time, you’re still going to be going at a trot if you want to cross everything off your list. But there’s something about the whole place that just encourages a more casual attitude. Easy access for locals means that many people who live nearby consider CityWalk and the parks themselves an easy weekend or after work hangout. While little kids will find a lot to do, the greater variety of attractions means older kids have more to keep themselves occupied with for a longer time. Don’t get me wrong. You’ll see your fair share of ankle biters running around doing… whatever it is kids like to do… chase hoops with sticks? Claw the furniture? If you’ve got several kids of different ages, or just more options beyond activities and attractions aimed at the young’uns in general, the variety at the Universal Orlando Resort is a high point. An important thing to consider when planning your vacation is whether any significant new attractions have opened up recently. You’re probably really excited for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley… but so am I. And so are thousands of other people, all who are going to be crushing their way through those gates at the same time. If you can stand the wait, giving new attractions and areas a few months to cool off will ease the crowd significantly.

Dining and Dancing

Copyright – Universal

If you’ve been visiting the Mouse for a while, you’re probably used to having to plan most of your restaurant reservations weeks if not months in advance. While it’s true that at certain times of the year when more families are likely to be on vacation from different parts of the world restaurants can fill up, largely you’ll find that you can walk up to just about any restaurant without a reservation. Each park has a wide variety of counter “quick” service stands, refillable mugs for purchase along with Coke Freestyle Machines, as well as two sit-down full service restaurants, and CityWalk offers even more. In addition to food and shopping, CityWalk has several clubs that require a separate fee to enter. If you’re looking for that nightclub flair, try the Red Coconut Club for cocktails and lounging. Or visit CityWalk’s Rising Star, which is both a great bar and a karaoke club… with a live band and backup singers on certain nights of the week! Sure you’ll still embarrass yourself tearfully bellowing Wanted: Dead or Alive like you did back in your bedroom when you got dumped back in seventh grade, but hey, at least you won’t go down alone. I got your back. FREEBIRD!

Events

Throughout the year, the Universal Orlando Resort puts on a lot of extra events, parties, and concerts that can make your trip a vastly different experience depending on when you go and what you go to. Detailing all of them in-depth would require its own article, but here are a few of the big ones you’ll either want to get excited about, or watch out for.

Rock the Universe – This remarkably rowdy and energetic series of concerts takes place over a single weekend in September. Focusing on Christian music and faith, and running from 4:00PM to a staggering 1:00AM, it features musical performances by some of the genre’s top artists, Sunday morning worship service, and the rides and attractions running throughout at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It’s a separately ticketed event, so even if you already have a Universal Studios pass you’ll still need to buy a ticket if you want to attend. If you have young kids, you may want to keep an eye on them, since despite the theme, this is still a massive party with the sale of alc0hol, and things can wind up getting rowdy.

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights - Another event that requires its own separate ticket, this one takes place at Universal Studios Florida. Running select nights weekly from late September through the first of November, this is for everyone who loves a good scream and the revving of a chainsaw. With multiple themed “Scare Zones” where horrifically costumed Team Members roam the streets and a number of amazingly detailed haunted “Houses”, this event is centered entirely around thrills and chills. Most attractions at the park will even be running at the same time. While children aren’t restricted from entering, parents should be warned that this event is extremely bloody and frightening. Perhaps more importantly, it also tends to attract an older crowd that, combined with the high-energy atmosphere and the substantial sales of alcohol, means things get more raucous here than perhaps any other time of the year. Then again, I always felt toddlers who were forged in the fires of ear-rupturing screams and seven-foot-tall zombies grew into sterner stuff. (No, I don’t have kids… why do you ask?)

Mardi Gras – Unlike most of the other events on the calendar, this one is not only included with your ticket, but runs on average a whopping five months from February to June on the weekends. During this time, Universal Studios transforms into a riot of colour, beads, shiny fabrics, and music. Throughout the event, different concerts are scheduled… everyone from artists like Hot Chelle Ray to Robin Thicke. If you’re willing to put up with one doozy of a crowd, you can catch the performances onstage in the park as part of your admission. With parades, food carts, and more, Mardi Gras, perhaps more than any other event, encourages dancing and revelry while aiming to stay family-friendly. Everyone needs embarrassing photos of their kids two-stepping in satin jester hats and glitter beads, right?

Attractions and Properties

As you might expect, Universal Orlando Resort’s two parks draw a lot of their themes, attractions, and designs from movies. Islands of Adventure boasts several themed “lands” centered around Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Marvel in addition to the classics like The Lost Lands or Toon Lagoon. Each of these areas provides a surprising balance of entertainment aimed at all ages, and anyone who claims Universal falls short in the theming of their architecture and design clearly hasn’t taken a good long look at the intricate windows and shelves of Hogsmeade, or the winding, storybook trees and buildings of Seuss Landing. On the other side of CityWalk, a mere brisk two minute walk, you’ll find Universal Studios Florida, with a somewhat more eclectic collection of attractions. There you’ll find the breakneck spinning and action of Transformers: The Ride-3D. The unexpected backwards tricks of the Revenge of the Mummy coaster, and of course, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster… with its secret music tracks, no less. (Shh!) Guests of certain generous body dimensions, of which I count myself included, should be forewarned that many of the attractions at Universal Orlando Resort are considered significantly more restrictive than those at the Walt Disney World Resort. But before you hop into one of the long lines for these rides, you might want to consider…

Universal Express Pass

Can you really overstate the usefulness, nay, the sheer unbridled joy, of not having to wait an hour and a half to get on a two minute ride? Unlike Disney World’s FastPass+ system, Universal Express Pass isn’t available for every attraction and is sadly not free, but as a result, outside of special events the Express line tends to be vastly underutilized compared to what you might experience at Disney World. Each pass is good for one ride on each attraction, and you can use it whenever you please, which means nobody has to wait around for a specific time window for anything. Before you buy, however, take a walk through the park you’re visiting and scope out the average wait times for each attraction… you might not need the pass at all! If you’re staying at either Loews’ Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews’ Portofino Bay, however, you don’t need to shell out any extra dough, since guests staying at one of those three hotels can swipe their room key for a special pass that allows free Unlimited Express Pass on all rides that offer it for the duration of their stay. And speaking of the hotels…

On-Site Accommodations

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Loews Royal Pacific Resort - If you’re looking for the sort of hotel that invites casual relaxation when you’re not being flung around by Decepticons or spat on by giant spiders, Royal Pacific is for you. From the topical, beach-side design to the scenic and serene seven minute walk along the well-kept path to City Walk, everything about it is perfectly tailored to encourage you to chill out. Dining options include, but are not limited to, the substantial menu at Jake’s American Bar, the eye-popping opulence of Emeril’s Tchoup-Chop, and the Orchid Court Lounge and Sushi Bar… breakfast in the morning, some of the best rolls that’ll ever grace your lips at night. This is one of the best choices for families or couples looking for a stay with close proximity to the park, but without a lot of raucousness from the other guests.

Hard Rock Hotel - Come on. How can you not like a hotel that will loan you a guitar to learn how to play via in-room video tutorials completely free of charge? The Hard Rock is definitely the closest of Universal’s on-site accommodations, with a short two to three minute meander depositing you right at the front gates to Universal Studios. Everything about the design encourages that party party party mentality, from the memorabilia lining the halls and walls everywhere to the underwater sound system at the pool. This means that it can be the most fun, but also most rambunctious, hotel the property has to offer. Many of the guests you’ll encounter are young adults looking to dial it up to eleven, which may mean it isn’t ideal if you want somewhere calm and quiet. The poolside bar and restaurant offers one of the best turkey burgers you’ll find anywhere, however, and the energetic atmosphere and varied bars makes it perfect for when you leave the park at the end of the day but don’t want the party to stop.

Loews Portofino Bay Resort- Picture it. Old world architecture. Quiet walkways. Three themed pools to suit your mood. And to cap it off? Music down at the docks in the evenings. Portofino Bay is the best choice for people looking for a hotel that offers a more serene ambiance and adult atmosphere without sacrificing the amenities you want while you’re on vacation, making this the best choice if you really want somewhere quiet and relaxing to retreat to at the end of the day. Portofino’s biggest drawback, however, is that you either have to be willing to wait for and catch a boat back from the parks, or walk back if you don’t have the scratch for a tip for your friendly neighbourhood surrey bike driver. While the pathway to Portofino is one of the most beautiful the property has to offer, especially when everything is in bloom for its butterfly garden, it’s also the longest pathway, and what was an idyllic stroll at the start of the day can feel like a never-ending uphill slog at the end of it. If you’re a fan of good pizza, however, it might all be worth it, since Sal’s Market Deli has by far the best you’ll find anywhere at Universal. Yeah, I went there.

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort - With a swanky mid 1900s style and an even swankier pool with a lazy river, this is the newest on-property hotel. The upsides of this lovely modern place are pretty keen. A full poolside suite typically going for substantially less than your average king bedroom at one of the other hotels. The aforementioned pool, only open to Cabana Bay residents. To say nothing of some great casual dining options and even a Starbucks of its own. The downsides? Well, if you stay at Cabana Bay, you do not get the free park Express Passes, and since it’s farther away than any of the other hotels, you either have to be prepared for a much longer walk, or go for the shuttle. I don’t know about you guys, but there’s a lot I’m willing to forgive, even a long walk after a longer day, if it comes with a cheap six person room with a kitchenette and poolside access.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of everything the Universal Orlando Resort. Still, it should provide you with a basic idea of the things to keep in mind that set this place apart from the Walt Disney World Resort. I hope you’ll join us there some time! I’ll be the girl laying facedown on the cobblestones in Diagon Alley. Where Jaws used to be. Tearfully crooning “My Heart Will Go On” while being shooed by the Ministry of Magic. As for this post… I guess you’ve reached the bottom.

Property – Universal

Please welcome Dora Breckinridge to the TouringPlans blog team. Originally from Canada, Dora now lives in Tampa and loves all the Central Florida theme parks. Dora reviews video games at JayisGames.com during her day job.

We’ve passed an important PotterWatch milestone this week: we’re most likely less than one month away from the public premiere of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. This update will examine some new lighting along the London Waterfront, the newly revealed Hogsmeade transition area outside the original Wizarding World, and […]

Welcome to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where time has turned purple… (photos by Seth Kubersky)

We’ve passed an important PotterWatch milestone this week: we’re most likely less than one month away from the public premiere of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. This update will examine some new lighting along the London Waterfront, the newly revealed Hogsmeade transition area outside the original Wizarding World, and some recently revealed Leaky Cauldron food and beverage details.

London Waterfront Lighting

I took a stroll along the London Waterfront outside Diagon Alley at “magic hour” to capture some of the lighting features throughout the area. Let’s start with a panoramic overview of the construction area:

This purple illumination on the King’s Cross clock tower confuses me. Perhaps it is some sort of magical effect, or an unfinished test? Time will tell…

Neon signage in the record shop next to Leicester Square advertised “Used Rare New”.

Chandeliers can be seen through the windows of Wyndham’s Theatre.

The lamps at the top of the gateway are also illuminated.

Along the shoreline embankment, the walls appear to be completely stained.

Behind Diagon Alley, the forested berm appears more or less complete.

Diagon Alley Return Ticket Kiosks

As reported previously, the service area relief area between Men In Black and Fear Factor Live will be used to distribute timed return tickets (not unlike the old paper FastPasses) for entering Diagon Alley. Not only have the kiosks been installed, but they were operational the other evening! You will be given a choice of time slots in which to return for entry to the London Waterfront through the gates near Fear Factor.

Not coincidentally, the kiosks formerly located in the Triceratops Trail area of Jurassic Park are no longer there.

Gringotts Dragon Sightlines

Ever since the Gringotts dragon was installed on top of the Diagon Alley bank, fans have been wondering how visible it will be from various places around the park. For starters, the Dragon is completely invisible from anywhere along the London Waterfront outside Diagon Alley, which is the most important place to conceal it from a theming perspective. Once you cross the bridge towards Men In Black, you can see a semi-obscured side view of the dragon from near the Roboasis Coke display.

From the Simpsons waterfront behind Duff Brewery, the dragon is again hidden by the London Waterfront facades.

The further you move along the lagoon towards Central Park, the more of the dragon is revealed. Your closest view is from behind Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck.

More side views are visible from Battery Park around to the Transformers ride. As you walk towards Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mash-Up, the buildings of San Francisco again hide the dragon until you approach the London Waterfront. Obviously, the dragon is blocked by buildings throughout most of the Production Central, Hollywood, and New York sections of the park, but for guests passing Mel’s diner it should serve as a powerful “weenie.”

Hogsmeade Transition

Over in Islands of Adventure, construction walls came down on one side of the border between The Lost Continent and the Wizarding World, giving us our first look at the newly landscaped Hogsmeade transition across from the Hogwarts Express train station.

The rockwork and trees work well to beautify this brief walkway, and is much better than the tacky carnival games that once stood here. But the plain wooden fence behind the trees still seems like a bit of a compromise.

Nearby, more walls have been removed around Hogsmeade Station. We’ve heard that team members have been testing the train regularly in recent days.

Leaky Cauldron Food and Beverage Preview

The internet was buzzing last week with word of the specialty foods that Chef Steve Jayson has cooked up for Diagon Alley. The official Universal Orlando blog released this Leaky Cauldron food and beverage preview, and our friend Jim Hill got a personal taste test. We can’t wait to try the many types of pies, imported cheeses, and scotch eggs, washed down with Fishy Green Ale (mint tea with blueberry tapioca). Plus, it was confirmed that Florean Fortescue’s will serve Butterbeer ice cream!

Finally, here’s one of the latest souvenirs you can find in IoA’s Trading Company store: Gryffindor boxer shorts.

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando. Water rides at the parks, you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. We here at the Saturday Six happen to love them and are glad we have so many great ones to choose from in Orlando. These rides can be just the thing to […]

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando. Water rides at the parks, you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. We here at the Saturday Six happen to love them and are glad we have so many great ones to choose from in Orlando. These rides can be just the thing to cool you off on one of those Florida days where it feels like you are walking on the surface of the sun, and as a side benefit they can be incredibly fun! Today we are going to look at the top six and we’ll start with…

Located in Toon Lagoon in Islands of Adventure, Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls is based on the old Jay Ward cartoons which – like many of the characters in Toon Lagoon – have been mostly lost to time. This is unfortunate, as many of Ward’s creations (Aesop’s Fables, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Peabody and Sherman) were years ahead of their time, containing sophisticated humor and satire that children and adults could enjoy. While Ripsaw Falls is filled with the trademark humor (and puns) of the cartoon it is based on, thanks to budget and time constraints under which it was built, it doesn’t have the “wow” factor of animatronics or the immersive scenery that some other rides on this list brings to the table. What it does have is an amazing facade, several decent drops, and one great one at the end. The final drop of Ripsaw Falls can hang with any flume ride, but Ripsaw Falls doesn’t end there….

Once guests go down the intense final drop, most assume that they’ve been through the worst and the ride is over. But no, this is where the fun really begins. As the logs circle around back to the unload station, they travel under a bridge. This bridge connects Toon Lagoon to Jurassic Park and is quite large. For a quarter, guests on the bridge have an opportunity to trigger one of the dozen water cannons aimed directly at the guests on Ripsaw Falls. It can not be expressed in mere words how fun this is (for the guests on the bridge, at least), and seeing the look of surprise from the unsuspecting riders as they get one final blast of water is almost worth the price of admission to Universal itself.

Water Cannons at Ripsaw Falls (photo by Brandon Glover)

On a hot day at IOA I have three tips for guests. Drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and bring lots of quarters to soak Ripsaw Falls riders.

Like much of SeaWorld, Journey to Atlantis doesn’t get as much attention as its counterparts in Disney and Universal, but the park’s first ever thrill ride is a lot of fun and has a little bit of a coaster element mixed in. Inside the elaborately themed temple, riders get a dark ride experience before heading outside for the flume ride drops and surprising roller coaster track near the end. Like Ripsaw Falls, the inside portions could use a bit of updating, but the overall thrill of Journey to Atlantis is still there, and the attraction has ride elements that separate it from any of its competition.

With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter dominating discussion of Islands of Adventure since the land opened in 2010 and Marvel Superhero Island getting renewed interest thanks the incredible success of the Marvel movies like The Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier, lost in the shuffle is the land dedicated to Jurassic Park. An amazingly themed area that includes one of the park’s best “weenies” in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, Orlando’s greatest children’s play area in Camp Jurassic, and of course the E-Ticket of the Jurassic Park River Adventure, Jurassic Park is not to be missed.

JP River Adventure starts off with guests taking a leisurely boat tour through Jurassic Park, even passing through the iconic large gates. On your tour you see several large animatronic dinosaurs before “something goes terribly wrong” and you find yourself right in the middle of raptor attack. It’s during the second half of the ride when the tension gets amped up, highlighted by the incredible T-Rex animatronic and the huge drop to cap off the ride.

The animatronic T-Rex in Jurassic Park River Adventure (photo by Jeff Kyle)

Another recommendation? Consider having lunch at Thunder Falls Terrace. It has large indoor and outdoor seating area that faces the big drop of Jurassic Park River Adventure, so you can see (and the hear the screams of) the guests as they plunge down into the water. It also has a menu that contains many of the menu items found at the Three Broomsticks, so your family can enjoy something beyond the normal theme park burgers, chicken strips, and pizza.

The rides up to now get you wet, but the next two on the list are more than likely going to get you soaked. Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not a whitewater rafting ride, it’s a STORY rafting ride (sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) On a serious note, Walt Disney Imagineering has done an incredible job creating an environment that is gorgeous, starting in the queue itself. Once inside the raft you go through an Asian rain forest (passing by temples, waterfalls, bamboo, and all), float by the evils of greedy logging companies, and finish back in the lush vista of Anandapur after a thrilling drop. If Kali Rapids has a fault, it’s the ride is just too short and definitely could be a bit longer. Still, it’s a beautiful experience.

# 2 – Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (IOA)

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (photo by Mike Sperduto)

Up until now, we would strongly recommend storing anything you don’t want to get wet in a locker or giving it to a friend/family member to keep safe, but can understand if you want to risk it by taking on the ride. Popeye & Blutos Bilgerat Barges? If you take something on this ride, it’s getting wet: no ifs, ands, or buts. It is impossible to walk off Bilge Rat Barges without getting drenched.

The theming of Bilge Rate Barges is whimsical and fits right into the “straight out of the funny pages” style of Toon Lagoon. Among the drops, waterfalls, and ability for guests not on the ride to spray you with water cannons (like Ripsaw Falls) AND have water dumped on you from a shower head, all the people in the raft are gonna feel like they just went swimming after exiting the ride. Bilge Rat’s length (it’s a nice long trip) and some hilarious surprises during the ride would make this # 1 on just about any water ride’s list. The problem is that THIS list contains not just one of the best water rides in the theme park history, but one of the best rides period….

# 1 – Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)

Splash Mountain (photo by Mike Sperduto)

What else needs to be said? It’s Splash Mountain. You love it. I love it. What’s NOT to love about it? Rock work? Gorgeous. Animatronics? Tons of ‘em. Soundtrack? Amazing. Length of ride? Only Ellen’s Energy Adventure seems longer, but the difference is you don’t want Splash to stop! Drop at the end? Not only thrilling but can give you a wonderful view of the Magic Kingdom.

Splash Mountain is everything a theme park ride should be. It takes the log flume ride that we’ve all done a million times at every amusement park we’ve ever been to and turned the dial up to an 11. The word “story” is comically overused in theme parks, especially in Orlando, but this ride truly tells a story that you will adore. Guests do not need to have watched the film it is based on (and good luck with that because Disney has Song of the South buried so far in the vault we’ll see the fat-shaming Habit Heroes attraction come back before that film is released) to enjoy every minute. The tale of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear is told to use within the ride, and we get a clear beginning, middle, and end. The finale, itself, is one of my favorite ends to any ride in Orlando.

So there you have it: the Top Six Theme Park Water Rides in Orlando. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the SaturdaySix, where we are going to cash in our 30 day A.A. chip and look at the Top Six Theme Park Bars.If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles or, for your listening pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

Special thanks to Disney Blogger Extraordinaire Morgan Crutchfield, Mike Sperduto, Tom Bricker, Jeff Kyle of Daily Disney Photo, and crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for their assistance with this article. I would also like to send a big thank you to Maureen Deal and recommend everyone to check out her site Autism at the Parks. An invaluable guide for anyone who tours theme parks with a loved one with a developmental disability, Maureen’s site is filled with tips, advice, and trip reports to help prepare you in order to have the smoothest experience possible.

Orlando experienced some wild weather last week, but the torrential rain didn’t stop progress on Diagon Alley, as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando accelerates towards rumored soft openings at the end of this month. In today’s edition of PotterWatch, we feature the installation of the famous Piccadilly Circus Fountain in […]

The Piccadilly Circus fountain has arrived at Universal’s Wizarding World (photos by Seth Kubersky)

Orlando experienced some wild weather last week, but the torrential rain didn’t stop progress on Diagon Alley, as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando accelerates towards rumored soft openings at the end of this month. In today’s edition of PotterWatch, we feature the installation of the famous Piccadilly Circus Fountain in front of the the London Waterfront, and a new Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes starting next week.

Piccadilly Circus Fountain

The final major component of the London Waterfront, as featured in published concept art of the area, arrived recently, as a stunning replica of the Piccadilly Circus fountain was mounted in front of the Wyndham’s Theatre facade.

While I was taking photos from across the lagoon, jets of water began spouting from the fountain at impressive heights.

But by the time I got close enough to capture video, the spraying had ceased, and a worker was on a lift adjusting it.

London Waterfront and Diagon Alley Progress

Smaller details are progressing all along the London Waterfront, with much more work occuring in Diagon Alley behind the facade.

The wooded berm’s forest is still a work in progress, but the Gringotts show building should eventually be largely concealed.

The newly installed lampposts are made of cast iron, and look amazingly authentic in person.

The former Amity Island restrooms, which were originally themed to the Jaws ride, are now being repainted in a shade of brown.

Zonko’s Window

Zonko’s interior may have been eaten up by Honeyduke’s candy shop, but it will remain in spirit thanks to these newly modified windows, featuring “no-heat” fireworks.

The explosive backdrop is clearly designed to animate using simple spinning patterns. Most likely, this will be activated by the interactive wands I’ve previously reported on.

The display appears to be computer-printed at a relatively low resolution, and is (to me) of noticeably less exacting quality than the area’s original windows.

Hogsmeade Station

Take a look at progress on Hogsmeade Station and its entry building at the transition to Hogsmeade.

The metallic patterning applied to the tower of Sindbad‘s stadium is reminiscent of water towers seen along railroads in the UK.

There was no work being done on this wall and berm during my visit.

However, the large stones I spotted behind Thunder Falls Terrace on a prior visit were no longer visible. Could they be destined to live here?

Today Show Harry Potter Sweepstakes

Tune into NBC’s Today Show next week for “clues” to entering a sweepstakes that could take you to Universal Orlando and the Wizarding World. You can register to enter on this website, then watch the show starting the morning of May 13.

These segments will include footage featuring Al Roker recorded during a recent video shoot at the resort, as revealed in this promotional clip, which also provides our first look at the animatronic goblins in the Gringotts lobby:

]]>http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/05/08/potterwatch-today-show-harry-potter-sweepstakes/feed/1SATURDAY SIX: The Six Most Underrated Attractions and Shows at Universalhttp://blog.touringplans.com/2014/05/03/saturday-six-six-underrated-attractions-shows-universal/
http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/05/03/saturday-six-six-underrated-attractions-shows-universal/#commentsSat, 03 May 2014 11:17:52 +0000http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=61518By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Six Most Underrated Attractions and Shows at Universal. Let’s face, there is no shortage of great and memorable shows and attractions at the Universal Orlando Resort. We all have our favorites. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride 3-D are three stunning achievements in the […]

This week’s SATURDAY SIX covers the Six Most Underrated Attractions and Shows at Universal. Let’s face, there is no shortage of great and memorable shows and attractions at the Universal Orlando Resort. We all have our favorites. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride 3-D are three stunning achievements in the theme park world. The Incredible Hulk and Revenge of the Mummy are two insanely great roller coasters. Men In Black: Alien Attack is hands down one of the most fun interactive shooters in Orlando . Even E.T., the oldest kid on the block, still has one of the most impressive queues ever built and a ride that – in my opinion – crushes Peter Pan’s Flight. But today we’re going to look at the most underrated shows and attractions at Universal. Six things you need to add to your Must Do list on your next trip to the parks. And we’ll start with….

# 6 – Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show (Universal Studios Florida)

If you’ve never tried Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show because you’re “not into horror,” let me alleviate your fears. I was in the exact same boat and put off this show for years until a friend of mine dragged me into it because they loved movie make-up. Turns out it is a fascinating look into make-up (and special effects) of horror films and is absolutely hilarious. There are two hosts of the live show and they spend much more time on “funny” than “scary” and throw in a whole bunch of pop-culture references for the crowd to enjoy.

Lobby area has sections dedicated to various horror directors, stars, and movies, including this one to Steven Spielberg

Another area that sets the Horror Make-Up Show is the pre-show/queue. Guests enter the lobby of the Pantages Theater (a references to Old Hollywood) and all around the room are props and art from various “horror” movies from film history including the classic Universal Monster series of films all the way up to current directors such as Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. Generally there is also an area set up displaying something from Halloween Horror Nights, as well. Even if you have no interest in seeing the actual show I would highly recommend walking into the lobby and checking out what essentially is a museum to movie effects history.

# 5 – Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride. … Staring YOU!

Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride…. Staring You! went from one of the Six Attractions That Need to be Burned Down to underrated thanks to a refurb in 2008 that added two great elements. The first one is at the start of the attraction where Universal’s musion technology allows guests to see a very clever segment in which Christopher Walken interacts with a Team Member. Musion is part “Pepper’s Ghost” and part 21st century technology combined so that guests can see a projection in front of them in a way that doesn’t take you out of the technology. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey used Musion in the queue allowing fan-favorite characters Dumbledore and the Big Three (Harry, Ron, and Hermoine) to be a part of the story. The segment with Christopher Walken (as film producer Frank Kincaid) is a true “wow” moment.

The second element that takes makes Disaster! a must do is the very end. Throughout the attraction guests volunteer to be filmed doing activities to show the movie making process, very similar to the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It all comes together at the end in a great payoff when guests get to watch a trailer for a film by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. The faux movie is called “Mutha Nature” and the Rock plays a park ranger who has to save lives during various ecological disasters. Footage of the Rock is then mixed with the footage of the guests who had volunteered and the result is always jaw-droppingly funny. It’s that good.

Every time I walk by Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl and it has no line I want to scream “What is wrong with you people?!” What a fantastic spinner for both kids and adults. One of the funniest queues ever built (it even has a sign that says typos are not acceptable for anyone texting in line) and a spinner ride that can appeal to teenagers and adults, and yet this is the one attraction that had Express Pass but it was removed because it wasn’t needed. Meanwhile there is a line over at the Magic Kingdom for The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

# 3 – Animal Actors on Location (USF)

I’m a sucker for good animal shows. A couple of my favorites include Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld’s Seymour & Clyde Take Pirate Island, but of all the ones I enjoy, Animal Actors on Location seems to get the least amount of love and attention. What I love about Animal Actors is the wide array of different animals they use: birds, orangatangs, dogs, skunks, pigs and a rooster are among the menagerie of animals used. How do you train a rooster?!

Like Disaster! the show itself gives an interesting look into the movie making process, except this one focuses – of course – on the animals used in films. A great show for everyone in the entire family and another attraction that has some genuine laughs throughout, especially when the animals don’t follow “the script.”

MIB’s Frank the pug

# 2 – The Blues Brothers (USF)

Elwood and Jake, the Blues Brothers

I’ll be upfront. I’m not a fan of the Blues Brothers film. I love Dan Aykryod and John Belushi, but the movie does nothing for me, so for a long time I had zero interest in seeing this live show.

Boy, what a mistake that was.

The Blues Brothers Show has energy and every Team Member I have seen play the characters of Jake and Elwood Blues seem to nail it each time. The songs are for the most part well known (Gimmie Some Lovin’, Jailhouse Rock, Respect and the headliner Soul Man), but it’s how the characters seem to channel their movie counterparts which makes this a must watch show. The show is so good it overcomes several of the things that I’m not a big fan of in theme parks, including 1) live music 2) standing 3) no shade. Don’t be a fool like me and keep putting off this show during your touring of the park. The Blues Brothers play several times throughout the day, and you can fit a performance into your schedule. It will be worth it.

One of the most iconic cars in film history joining Doc’s DeLorean, the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1 and the Batmobile.

Even better than the regular Blues Brothers show? The holiday show. A great experience (and dedicated readers of the SATURDAY SIX will remember it was one of our favorite parts of Universal’s holiday celebrations) that makes a good show even better. Peanuts specials, Cap’n Crunch, and Blues Brothers shows, is there anything Christmas can’t improve?!

# 1 – Poseidon’s Fury (Islands of Adventure)

The outdoor facade for Poseidon’s Fury single-handedly justifies the existence of the Lost Continent area at Islands of Adventure. Stunningly huge and elaborately detailed, this is an example of what Universal Creative can do when not tied to a specific Intellectual Property. Poseidon’s Fury is a walkthrough experience that contains several of Universal’s most incredible special effects, the best of which is an surreal walk through a tunnel in which jets of water form the walls around you.

Various elements of the show can be corny, no doubt, but the final battle is fun to watch play out in a larger than life setting. There is nothing like Poseidon’s Fury anywhere else in the theme park world and it is just the type of show that could be used over in Diagon Alley for the rumored Ministry of Magic attraction that would go where Fear Factor Live currently stands.

HONORABLE MENTION: Blue Man Group (Universal CityWalk)

The Blue Man Group is one of the rare things in the is world in which videos and descriptions just do not do it justice. You need to experience it in person. Combining music, performance art, and a lot of humor, the three Blue Men put on a show that will continue to impress you throughout. In 2012 the show was revamped in a way that kept all the fantastic bits of the previous incarnation (including a segment that involves marshmallows that will have your jaw on the floor) and added in several new bits that satire technology’s current stranglehold on us all. Highest Possible Recommendation.

So there you have it: the Six Most Underrated Attractions and Shows at Universal. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the SaturdaySix, where we are going to look at some of the most iconic photo ops at Universal.If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles or, for your listening pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.